by Leah Eclavea

Guam - The service members of Coast Guard Sector Guam said farewell to sector commander Captain Thomas Sparks this morning. Sparks began his tour on island in 2008 just days before his command had to respond to the crash of the Air Force B-52 aircraft. He was also at the helm when responding to the tsunami threat earlier this year as well as the sinking of the dry dock Big Blue.

Sparks spoke about the many accomplishments during his command which he now hands over to Captain Casey White who says she wants to continue with the high standards set by her predecessor. "I'm most proud of our search and rescue cases and we've done 300 and some, we've saved 117 lives and assisted almost 300 in distress that's what I am most proud of." Said White, "What I wish to accomplish for Guam is very much what has already been accomplished here and that is to continue working hard towards working with the missions, working with the community, working with our DOD partners."

White reports to Guam after graduating from the US Marine Corps War College in Virginia.